The Return Of The Communal Table

"Gone are the days when communal tables were relegated to cafeterias, beer halls, Benihana, and the odd farm-to-table restaurant," writes Adee Braun for The Atlantic.

According to Braun, different restaurants across the nation are seeing the benefit of family-style seating. "It makes good economic sense for restaurants," Braun says on the air on Maryland's Morning News.

But, how do their diners feel sharing a meal with strangers? "It's very situational. It depends what people's expectations are," she explains. She says people are more open to this seating arrangement depending on the dining experience they're looking for. "Food becomes the social lubricant that gives people the opportunity to talk about something and kind of alleviates the anxiety of sitting next to a total stranger."